tetracycline and Pulmonary-Disease--Chronic-Obstructive

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. It is caused by chronic inflammation of the airways and the lung parenchyma. Symptomatic treatment is based on bronchodilatation, which leads to a reduction of hyperinflation and relief of dyspnea. Smoking cessation is the only known causative treatment option. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) reduce exacerbations and, potentially, mortality. Future therapies should ameliorate chronic inflammation and thus stop the annual decline of lung function. In face of increasing mortality and morbidity more research is needed.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Administration, Inhalation; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Bronchodilator Agents; Carboxylic Acids; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; Drug Therapy, Combination; Dyspnea; Expectorants; Forced Expiratory Volume; Forecasting; Humans; Inflammation; Infliximab; Lung; Macrolides; Nitriles; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; Pilot Projects; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Research; Respiratory Function Tests; Simvastatin; Smoking Cessation; Tetracycline; Theophylline; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha